Meir Kahane in his interview with Walter Goodman C ‘I'd Love to See the J.D.L. Fold Up. But—,” Nov. 21) cynically boasted that “the J.D.L. had caused a serious breach between the U.S.S.R. and the United States.” would like to ask on my own behalf and on behalf of the congregation of our synagogue: Who is out to win? The American Jews? The Soviet Jews? Or perhaps the American or the Soviet people? We completely agreed with the Jewish cultural clubs and societies representing 60 New York organizations when they said: “Certainly the effort to aggravate relations between the Soviet Union and the United States, at a time when serious efforts are being made for improved relations, is crime against all Americans, of whom the Jews are a part. for it presents a menace to the maintenance and promo

Mr. Goodman recalls an episode he witnessed in the Tel Aviv Restaurant in New York. An elderly Jew, with many apologies, approached Kahane's table and started to ask him questions on the Talmud's teachings on violence. We religious Jews knew what this elderly Jew had in mind. Not one Jewish law, including the Talmud, ever justified violence. Kahane's reply that “one could find in Jewish tradition support for violence if it was needed in a worthy cause” is a blasphemous lie in the mouth of a person who calls himself a rabbi. And no references to the Maccabees will be of any avail. Does not our law proclaim, “Justice, justice, thou shall pursue” (Deuteronomy)? And does not this mean, according to the Talmud, that a worthy aim

worthy means? What does Kahane call a “worthy aim”? Can a “worthy aim” be achieved by shooting at defenseless children, by persecuting and threatening innocent people?

Who authorized Kahane to defend Soviet Jews? It is obvious from the interview with Kahane that American Jews are confronted with serious problems which allegedly led to the organization of the Jewish Defense League and its violent tactics. But what does this have to do with Soviet Jews living in country where national and race problems have found most just solution?

Kahane's aim is clear. It has nothing to do with the “defense of Soviet Jews.” Kahane is carrying out the will of reactionaries and enemies of peace whose greatest fear is an improvement in

Soviet‐American relations. And, naturally, to ‘achieve that unworthy aim, creating discord between American and Soviet Jews, between the Soviet and American peoples, Kahane uses the most unworthy means.